Leicester shelter barred from accepting dogs

Thursday

Jun 13, 2013 at 6:00 AMJun 13, 2013 at 9:47 PM

One of the shelters that the city of Worcester uses to house stray dogs, the Barton Brook Kennel & Humane Shelter, has been ordered by a state agency to stop accepting dogs. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources made an unannounced inspection of Barton Brook on March 11 and found inadequate conditions in both its buildings, according to an order issued to the shelter's president, Patricia Dykas.

By Mikala Kane SPECIAL TO THE TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

One of the shelters that the city of Worcester uses to house stray dogs, the Barton Brook Kennel & Humane Shelter, has been ordered by a state agency to stop accepting dogs.

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources made an unannounced inspection of Barton Brook on March 11 and found inadequate conditions in both its buildings, according to an order issued to the shelter's president, Patricia Dykas.

Ms. Dykas is also the animal control officer for Leicester. She said she did not know about the state order. She then declined to comment.

Worcester animal control officers and other animal control officers have been taking animals, including dogs, to Barton Brook, 305 River St., for detention, according to the state order.

Worcester police used Barton Brook on a limited basis in March and April, according to Kathleen A. Daly, spokeswoman for the department. For much of 2013, Worcester police primarily used the Worcester Animal Rescue League for animal shelter services.

According to the state order, the smaller building at Barton Brook, which operates as a crematorium and is used to isolate animals, lacked an adequate heat source to maintain an ambient temperature between 65 and 85 degrees.

The larger building, which is used to board animals, also lacked an adequate heat source, the state said. The main floor of this building is a dirt floor, making sanitization impossible. This building also lacked an adequate water source, impeding the ability to maintain sanitary conditions, and the artificial light in the room was not strong enough for people to see the animals and their surroundings. Finally, animal food in this building was not stored in rodent-proof containers.

Barton Brook was ordered to immediately stop accepting dogs for detention from Worcester and from other animal control officers. Barton Brook was also ordered to make arrangements to transfer all of the dogs detained there to a more suitable facility.

“The department discontinued using Barton Brook Kennel & Humane Shelter in compliance with the desist order issued by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and Resources,” Ms. Daly said. “Prior to the order, the department sent approximately seven to 10 dogs to the Barton Brook Kennel & Humane Shelter. We will continue to use the Worcester Animal Rescue League until a contract for animal services is fully executed by the city of Worcester.”

The state agency said that if Barton Brook wishes to continue boarding and detaining animals it must install a concrete floor in the main room of the larger building; provide adequate heat sources for both buildings; install a sink with running hot and cold water in the larger building; install adequate artificial illumination in the larger building, and store all animal food in rodent-proof containers.